Whether you think of it as a test run for SXSW, a belated Christmas present to local music fans, or an excuse to drink for seven days straight, Emo's Free Week kicks off today with a schedule of acts that reads like a who's-who of local punk, indie, and rock. As the showcases are all without cover, we'd recommend getting there early. Emo's Free Week January 2-8 603 Red River Tuesday, January 2 Inside:......

15. Mogwai - Mr. Beast (Matador) As ever, Mogwai manage to blend unadulterated post-rock weight to their shoegazer tendencies with tracks like "Glasgow Mega Snake" and "Folk Death 95," showcasing their ability to create anthems with no words. This is where Mr. Beast really shines, in between blistering chord progressions and gradual swings into corybantic climaxes. In some ways a throwback to earlier (and heavier) Mogwai material, Mr. Beast isn't merely a rock album.......

We arrived at the Parish Room on Sunday night for the Band of Horses show, and found the venue packed, not suprisingly, full of eager fans. Band of Horses are one of those groups that pretty much tell you what to expect from them live on their albums; in this case, it's a marriage of slow, dreamy tunes with head-bobbing rock songs sprinkled in between. Interesting, considering the fact that while "The Funeral" is......

If there's anything worth the pain of showing up for work on Monday morning exhausted, a Band of Horses show at The Parish is probably it. Known for their My Morning Jacket-ish vocals, early Doug Martsch guitar sound and undeniable old-yet-new familiarity, Band of Horses promises to be a fantastic show. They recently played a show at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC , blessing the crowd with a cover of Hall & Oates' "You......